Rugby Union star stands up for human rights in Russia

Australian Rugby Union legend David Pocock joins our campaign to end discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community in Russia before this year's Winter Olympics.

David Pocock is arguably one of Australia’s most popular and accomplished sporting stars.

For sports fans, you’ll know him as the Rugby Union openside flanker in both Australia’s national Rugby Union team, the Wallabies, and the ACT Brumbies.

For others not appreciative of all things sport, there’s another reason why you’re likely to know and respect Dave.

That’s because, despite his full sporting schedule and commitments to two leading Rugby teams, he’s also a voice for people that aren’t always able to speak for themselves and enjoy the same rights as everybody else.

Dave proudly uses his public profile to champion the rights of LGBTI people and call for their basic human rights to legally be recognised, not just in Australia, but internationally.

He’s famously refused to marry his long-term partner Emma until same-sex marriage becomes a reality in Australia. And now, he’s put his words and name to Amnesty International Australia’s campaign to end the discrimination against people who are gay in Russia.

Here, in this open letter, on behalf of Amnesty International, he explains why.

Open letter by David Pocock

Dear Amnesty supporters,

IMAGINE if your country had laws that, instead of protecting you, promoted vigilante violence against you.

IMAGINE if your head of state, instead of representing you, encouraged others to hate you – simply because of who you love.

My name’s Dave, and I play Rugby for the Australian Wallabies. Like many, I’m looking forward to watching the world’s best athletes compete at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi (Russia) next month – but I’m also deeply concerned.

Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, has introduced laws that make it dangerous for same-sex couples to simply express who they are. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people are attacked and harassed, and officials not only fail to investigate these hate crimes, they incite them.

The values of a 'level playing field' and a 'fair go' are part of Australian rhetoric, borne out of our sports-loving history. As the Games approach, it's time for us to make these more than slogans and stand up for what's right.

The LGBTI community in Russia certainly doesn't get a 'fair go', as their very identities are criminalised. Homophobic laws impose fines on individuals and organisations accused of promoting ‘propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations’.

As international attention turns to Russia for the Games, it's time to highlight the repression of the LGBTI community and to raise questions about a world that allows this discrimination to persist.

Russian authorities routinely refuse to grant LGBTI people permission to hold public events like pride rallies. On at least six occasions last year, activists were violently attacked during peaceful protests in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, with no action taken against their attackers despite overwhelming video and photo evidence.

But that’s not all. Over the last two years, Russia has passed laws that prevent people from enjoying all kinds of freedoms.

Members of the punk band Pussy Riot were sentenced to two years in jail after performing a song that criticised President Putin inside a church. More recently, thirty Greenpeace activists were arrested and charged with ‘hooliganism’ for protesting environmental destruction in the Arctic. There has even been a crackdown on human rights organisations like Amnesty – now forced to register as ‘foreign agents’ under threat of being fined or shut down.

Like Amnesty, I believe that hosting the Olympic Games is a privilege. Respect for people's rights and freedoms must be demanded of any host country.

Comments

HI Amelia,
Thanks for responding. In relation to your point about the situation surrounding the ex-Director and her assistants departure from Amnesty being the result of unusual circumstances, I would point out that I and other ex-members pointed out beforehand that Irene Khan was a train wreck waiting to happen. We were not listened to. Things have also not changed that much. The new head of Amnesty is on an outrageously huge salary which cannot be justified under any circumstances. Over 400,000 dollars a year, If I recall correctly. The organisation is also obsessed with a wide range of issues that might attract donations but are often little to do with core human rights issues.

In regards to Begg, it is one thing to fight for due process when he was imprisoned it is another for senior members of Amnesty to go around the country with him attacking the Americans etc when he is a prominent supporter of the Taliban, someone who preaches violence against women and unbelievers and also associates with some very unpleasant individuals who actively support terrorism. Basically Amnesty supports Begg because he attacked Bush etc. My enemy of my enemy must be my friend is a pretty dumb philosophy to adhere to. Yet, many who see themselves as being socially progressive do just that. This is why Tariq Ramadan is someone of a hero among social activists (he even recently gave the annual George Orwell lecture in the UK) despite being conflicted on whether women who commit adulatory deserve to be stone to death and disliking gays and jews. We should not be siding with these people under any circumstances. Amnesty should certainly not have sacked the head of its gender office for raising concerns about this. Especially given that she is a brave woman who publicly stood up for Salmon Rushdie and free speech at a time when many so-called progressives were critical of him for offending a minority religion.

Regarding Irene Khan and her assistant’s pay out for the cessation of their contracts, this was a unique and unfortunate situation, which we have since rectified. The contracts signed with Irene Khan dated back to many years ago and a previous governing body. The Chair of the Executive Committee took full responsibility for the matter and stepped down as a result.

None of the current employees, including the new Secretary General, is on the terms that applied to Ms Khan.

The current Secretary General, Salil Shetty, initiated a process to review our employment policies and procedures to ensure that a similar situation does not happen again. We are also transparent about our annual budgets and salary expenditures and you can view Amnesty International Australia’s financial statements online: http://www.amnesty.org.au/about/comments/25584/

Or view our London head office reports here: http://amnesty.org/en/who-we-are/accountability

Here’s the response to the first part of your comment: The issues you raise were dealt with in 2009/10 when they first came to light but we’re happy to clarify that again. Regarding your comments about Moazzam Begg, these concerns were raised by a former employee publicly, after she disagreed with Amnesty International on whether we should share a platform with Moazzam as a victim of torture.

Our work with Moazzam Begg focused on highlighting the human rights violations committed at the US detention centre Guantánamo Bay in Cuba, and the need for the US government to shut it down and either release or put on trial those held there.

Begg is a former Guantánamo detainee who was released without charge from Guantánamo Bay. He has never been tried or convicted for any terrorism-related offences. He suffered the abusive conditions of detention and illegality of Guantánamo and speaks powerfully about conditions at Guantánamo and the need for justice. In this capacity he has shared a platform with us.

We consistently document and campaign against abuses committed by the Taliban or Islamist armed groups, just as we have been campaigning for an end to violence against women and gender discrimination worldwide. Just last year, we awarded Malala Yousafazi our Ambassador of Conscience Award for her fight for the right for girls and women to get an education. We also publicly denounced the attack on Malala by the Taliban, after she was shot on a school bus for her outspoken and brave comments on this and we continue our campaign to end violence and discrimination against women.

Ending torture requires the voice of the tortured to be heard – regardless of whether or not you agree with their views including their religion, sexuality or gender.

Does, however, the good publicity you get from signing up a well-intentioned sports star make up for the damage done to your reputation by your association with Moazzam Begg, an Islamic fanatic who is a big fan of the Taliban, your sacking of the head of your gender unit, who rightly objected to this, your huge payouts to Irene Khan and her assistant, the huge salary your current head enjoys and the subsequent loss of many of your members disgusted by it all. Amnesty is now essentially a hard left organisation (and I’m on the left) whose views are determined by a crude tick a box approach with little thought to underlying principles (the over the top criticism of Israel and the unwillingness to criticise Islamic communities in the west for the treatment of women, etc.

It is easy to protest against breach of human rights in Russia from Australia. But do you know that the Australian government thriugh the Sports Commission effectively supports former criminals in key administrative postions and refuses to help the genuine sport to regain its true potential? If you are really against discrimination in sport - sign the petition: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/request-inquiry-into-administration-of-sport-of-wushu-in-australia.html.

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